free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
First post lockdown walk up a hill. L and E even came along.
The path along the side of the road was much better than I thought it would be. Little traffic and a lovely sunny day. there was a short section about 50m where you actually had to walk on the road itself. After you start up the track with the trees on your right hand side, eventually you come to a gate and you enter a field where the track is not so apparent. We just kept on walking up the field, this time keep the trees on our left hand side. As the trees thinned the track reappeared and then through another gate. Here's the view a little further on looking back down the track.
After that it was pretty straight forward following the track. L's hayfever starting bugging him unfortunately but he kept going. Every now and then when the wind died down hordes of flies appeared and E ket getting a bit agitated but thankfully she managed to keep the phobia in check. As we got closer to the col, Ben Rinnes came in to view and we reminisced about our previous attempt at the three of us going for a hillwalk. Both L and E said it was a much better day since it had been cold and in early spring so no flies and no hayfever but there was rain so the incident of the missing rain jacket and the walk abandonment was once again brought up. Astonishingly I managed to get a picture of both them.
- First sighting of Ben Rinnes
At the col, the track started zig-zagging up the hill, there was the opportunity to cut out these and go straight but L and E were having none of that. They wanted the easy life.
And after a humpf across the heather over the walls of the iron age fort we made it to the top.
Did manage another photo of E and L but E said it was not good enough hence only L in the topping out photo.
.
Stunning views across Moray.
The top was covered in these berries below. No idea what they are but they were very vibrant.
Had a look around the top but hard to discern the fort walls. There were various ponds which may I guess have been water sources.